On the sidelines of its 10th World Conference on the theme; ‘The Future of Journalism in the Digital Age’, Commonwealth Journalists Association, CJA held elections into the governing organs of the body recently.

The international executive bureau that had been in place for over three years needed some rejuvenation to enable it conduct business around the Commonwealth with greater vigour.

During the fierce campaigns that began with lobbying among delegates at the very beginning of the conference, the Cameroonian delegation, supported by the Representative of the Cameroon High Commissioner to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Nkong Makoge worked its way to the firmaments.

At the end of the election exercise on the 13th of April, the President of CJA- Cameroon, Chief Foanyi Nkemayang Paul was voted Vice President for Africa, while another member of the delegation, John Mbah Akuroh who is also Secretary General of the Cameroon Branch of the organisation, was elected into an International Executive Committee of 12.

Commonwealth Secretary General Rt. Hon. Patricia Scotland With Cameroon Delegation headed by Chief Foanyi Nkemayang

Rita Payne, who was the International President until the 13th of April was replaced by Mahendra Ved of India who previously served as Vice President for South Asia.

The elections, conducted in a transparent, free and fair atmosphere expectedly set the ground for more engagement and greater action within the association in efforts to protect journalists around the Commonwealth, while at the same time promote the virtues of responsible journalism.

At the close of the elections, the new bureau was received at a lunch organized by the Commonwealth Secretariat in Marlborough House in the heart of London.

During the reception, the Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Baroness Patricia Scotland told the men and women of letters that her action plan while in office will centre around three priority areas; gender equity, youth training and employment and then climate change.

There was also a clear engagement to encourage CJA in its drive to contribute to the wellbeing of the entire Commonwealth community.

The elected Cameroon delegation was received in audience last Friday by Cameroon’s High Commissioner in London, H.E Nkwelle Ekaney. He congratulated the duo and promised to collaborate with them during their term in the governing organ of CJA.